Biographical Sketch of Rudolph Loebenstein, Johnson County, Missouri,
Warrensburg Township
>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.
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Rudolph Loebenstein, the well known district agent for the Northwestern
Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a member of a prominent and highly
respected family of Warrensburg, Missouri. He was born November 11,
1865, in Atchison, Kansas, the son of Bernhard and Sarah (Aaron) Loeb-
enstein, both of whom were natives of Germany. Bernhard Loebenstein
was born in Datterode, Curhessen, and in that province was reared to
manhood. In 1856, he emigrated from the old country and came to America
where he located for a short time in the city of New York, from which
he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, thence to Rolla, Missouri. At the last
named city, Mr. Loebenstein engaged in the retail clothing business and
later, was in the same business in Atchison, Kansas. In 1866, he moved
with his family to Warrensburg, where he opened a clothing store on
West Pine street. Within a brief time after coming to Warrensburg,
Bernhard Loebenstein became associated in the mercantile business with
Manuel Frank, and they conducted a clothing store in partnership until
1879, when Mr. Loebenstein purchased Mr. Frank's interest in the estab-
lishment. Later, Mr. Loebenstein was associated in business with John
H. Wilson, who is at the present time conducting the Buente Mercantile
Company's establishment. During the Civil War, Bernhard Loebenstein
enlisted in September, 1861, at St. Louis, Missouri, with the Second
Missouri Infantry and served until September, 1862 under Captain Marder
and General Osterhaus. His corps took an active part in the battles of
Wilson Creek and Corinth, Mississippi, fighting under General Grant at
the latter place. Mr. Lobenstein was mustered out and honorably dis-
charged at Benton Barracks, Missouri. September 27, 1863, he was
united in marriage with Sarah Aaron in St. Louis, Missouri, and to them
were born five children: Caroline, deceased; Rudolph, the subject of
this review; Bertha, Warrensburg, Missouri; Dr. Samuel, a leading dent-
ist of Kansas City, Missouri; and Flora, the wife of Sylvain Kahn, of
Sedalia, Missouri. The father died October 23, 1895, and interment was
made in the Jewish cemetery at Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. Loebenstein was
a worthy and valued member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the
Grand Army of the Republic, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He
was a thoroughly capable and strictly honorable business man, a citizen
universally respected and esteemed. October 23, 1910, exactly fifteen
years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Loebenstein joined him in
death. Rudolph Loebenstein attended the public schools of Warrensburg
and the Warrensburg State Normal School and later, was a student at
Spalding's Commercial College, Kansas City, Missouri. He assisted in
his father's store in his boyhood days and from 1885 until 1889, he was
associated in business with the elder Loebenstein, under the firm name
of B. Loebenstein & Son. For one year, Rudolph Loebenstein was on the
road as traveling salesman for C. H. Garden & Company, manufacturing
hatters of Philadelphia. In 1885, Mr. Loebenstein became a member of
the Sons of Veterans, United States of America, gaining his right to
membership from his father's service in behalf of the Union. His rise
in the order was rapid, being captain of the local camp, mustering
officer of the Division of Missouri, commander of the Division of Miss-
ouri, chairman and member of the council-in-chief of the United States,
and finally was elected major-general of the order (the third highest
office in the United States) at the meeting held in St. Joseph, Miss-
ouri in 1890. He presided at the meeting of the commandery-in-chief at
Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1891, winning the respect and esteem of all
his colleagues. In 1890, he was appointed assistant postmaster of
Warrensburg, Missouri, which position he filled until August, 1892,
when he was elected, at Helena, Montana, quartermaster-general of the
Sons of Veterans of the United States of America, with headquarters
located at Chicago, Illinois. At Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. Loebenstein
was re-elected to the same position, which he filled six years. In
February, 1900, Rudolph Loebenstein and E. N. Johnson, of the Peoples
National Bank of Warrensburg, formed a partnership under the firm name
of Johnson & Loebenstein and conducted a brokerage business at Colorado
Springs, Colorado for three years. Mr. Loebenstein, in 1903, went from
Colorado Springs to Sedalia, Missouri, where he was associated in the
clothing business with the St. Louis Clothing Company of Sedalia until
1910. He was appointed district agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1911, which position he
now holds. His territory covers the counties of Cass, Lafayette, John-
son, Pettis and Jackson, exclusive of Kansas City and Independence. Mr.
Loebenstein is a member of Corinthian Lodge Number 265, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, and of Warrensburg Lodge Number 673, Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks. He is also a director of the Home Service
Section of the American Red Cross. Mr. Loebenstein is a quiet, unob-
trusive, industrious citizen, one who, though not at all courting
publicity, is very widely known throughout the state and even beyond
its confines.
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